Do you remember the 1980's song "We Are the World"?  I can remember being fascinated by the concept of singers and musicians from across the world, all famous and recognizable on their home turf, all coming together to hold hands and sing a song about becoming a global society.  And as we read an article in the New York Times about the growing demand, supply, and design of free online education, we see this song becoming a reality. 

The OpenCourse Ware movement is one that encourages educational institutions to offer their courses for free.  And it's working.  Universities from around the globe are now participating by posting lectures, notes, and even exams online for anyone's comsumption.  I can take a course being taught in Africa while someone from Borneo can take a course being taught at Yale.  Some would argue that this movement will diminish the power and influence that these institutions wield.  I would disagree.  I think that by offering a glimpse of the quality and type of education you can recieve at a given university it will actually help promote that institution.

And what of the profs?  Well, I'm sure that they don't necessarily appreciate the extra work but most would agree that their desire to share what they know with the world far outweighs the few minutes it takes to upload their latest lecture.  Most educators would rather give away what they know to help someone else than to hord their knowledge and only share it with a precious few.